Saint Philip the Deacon

Life story

Philip is first mentioned in Acts 6 as one of seven men chosen by the Jerusalem community to oversee the daily distribution of food to the Greek-speaking widows after a complaint. The Apostles laid hands on them. His Greek name suggests that he belonged to the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians. He should not be confused with Philip, one of the Twelve.

After Stephen was killed and the community was persecuted, Acts 8 tells how Philip went to a city of Samaria, where he preached, drove out spirits and healed many sick people. Then, at the word of an angel, he went down the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, met an Ethiopian official reading the prophet Isaiah, explained the passage to him and baptised him. He was later found at Azotus and travelled through the towns up to Caesarea.

Acts 21 says that some twenty years later Paul, on his way back to Jerusalem, stayed in Philip's house at Caesarea. There he is called the evangelist, and he has four unmarried daughters who prophesied. Early sources disagree about where he died: Eusebius, quoting others, places the grave of Philip and his daughters at Hierapolis in Asia Minor, while later tradition also names Caesarea. His death is therefore known only through tradition.

Works and witness

• One of the seven chosen to serve in Jerusalem (Acts 6)
• Preached and healed in Samaria (Acts 8)
• Baptised the Ethiopian official on the road to Gaza
• Hosted Paul in his house at Caesarea (Acts 21)
• Had four unmarried daughters who prophesied

Saints from the same country

Saint Peter, Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint James the Greater, Saint John the Apostle

References

• New Testament – Acts of the Apostles
• Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
• Martyrologium Romanum

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.